Hello my fellow Travelers,
I would like to tell you of my travel experience with People to People Student Ambassador Programs founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. I was given the honor of being picked out of many students to travel with P2P for 2 years when I was in junior high school. In my 7th grade I went to China and Hong Kong, with 15 other JR. high students from New York State, Illinois, and Maine. When in China, I visited the Great Wall in Beijing, saw the Terracotta warriors , and see Hong Kong's Fisherman's community. While there I learned that the Chinese have very different customs then us Americans do. The Chinese eat with chopsticks. They eat plenty of rice, and smaller meals to keep them full during their busy days.
In 8th grade I traveled to Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia with P2P. This time it was with different students from, Massachusetts. We spent three weeks learning about the Fijians, the Maori, and the Ozzies. I found out that in Fiji it would rain on minute and stop the next revealing a beautiful rainbow. In New Zealand there are four(4) types of Kiwis. Golden Kiwis you can eat the skin. Green Kiwis which people normally buy, you cannot eat the skin. The New Zealand national bird is called a Kiwi. Which can not fly. And the people who the Maori would call Kiwis because they are not native to the land. The Maori do this 'who's stronger then who' by sticking out their tongue as longs it can go and bugging the eyes out of the head. The first person to flinch is the weak one. The Maori believe the head is the most important part of the body. When you are on a bed the Maori expect you to use the pillow only for your head. In Australia the Ozzies were very friendly. I got to see the Sydney Opera House. Pet a kangaroo. And take a dinner cruise around the Sydney Harbor.
All in all I found that my trips with P2P have help make me into a more independent person. On each trip there were only 4-6 adults watching 17 students. No ones parents tagged along to hold your hand. You were on your own with friends. I got to understand more about people different countries and other states. I wish I could thank President Dwight D, Eisenhower for creating such an amazing organization. If you are ever given the chance to travel with People to People Student Ambassador Programs, I suggest to take it. You will have to fundraise lots of money, and do some paper work. But, in the end when your in a different country learning with other kids your age, you will be SO grateful that you did something that got you in to People to People. You will make new friends. Make unforgettable memories, and you will never be the same after your first trip.
I hope that I've convinced you in going on a P2P trip. If I haven't will... I am truly sorry that you didn't find what your looking for.
Happy Travels,
Sara Roz
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